Is atheism maturing, leaving Dawkins behind?

Dawkins remains a powerful force in atheism for the time being. Increasingly though, his public output resembles that of a man desperately grasping for attention and relevance in a maturing community. A community more interested in the positive expression of humanism and secularism than in watching a rich and privileged man punching down at people denied his opportunities in life. That, ultimately, is the tragedy of Richard Dawkins – a man who knows the definition of everything and the meaning of nothing.

Maturing community? Well, what about Shermer’s cease-and-desist order against PZ Myers?

Oh, got it now. Mature audiences only.

11 Responses to Is atheism maturing, leaving Dawkins behind?

OT: Darwin Zealot’s Reign of Terror – August 17, 2013
Excerpt: On July 24, the Bank of England announced removing Charles Darwin from the British 10 pound note beginning in 2017. Shortly after the announcement, the supporters of the change were bombarded with rape and death threats – the vast majority came via Twitter.http://www.darwinthenandnow.co.....of-terror/

I don’t think of atheists as a community at all. I guess that part of what the New Atheists are trying to is create such a community but it is hard to have a community based round a lack of belief. Almost by definition it becomes one of the less important things in your life.

OT: Peacock Spider – article with photographs
Excerpt: Maratus volans, better known as the Peacock Spider, is the dandiest, the cutest little thing you’ll see today. The male of this species has two rounded, most brilliantly colored skin-like flaps on either side of his abdomen that are folded down close against the sides of the body, like a shawl. The brilliant colouring is not just for decoration, he uses it when he courts his mate.
To get the attention of the female spider the male first waves his legs, vibrate his abdomen and moves from side to side. He also raises his third legs which have a brush of black bristles and the white-tipped ends. And then like a peacock, he raises the two magnificently coloured flaps and dances for the female. It’s this final act that has earned the spider, and indeed the whole genus Maratus, the name of Peacock Spider.http://www.amusingplanet.com/2.....pider.html

I think the more people become familiar with Dawkins and his arguments, the more they are realizing he’s not the great intellectual he and the media have portrayed him to be. Some of his claims are absurd and self-refuting (such as when he chastised the wife who hired a P.I to spy on her cheating husband, or when he claimed faith equals no evidence, only to be quickly refuted and embarrassed by Professor Lennox)

I don’t think of atheists as a community at all. I guess that part of what the New Atheists are trying to is create such a community but it is hard to have a community based round a lack of belief. Almost by definition it becomes one of the less important things in your life.

Well said, sir.

atheism=/=antitheism

Darwinism=/=GodDidntDoIt

Now this statement I can agree with. If only the ignorant masses who claim to be at the apogee of learning on the internet can be made aware.

They are, sort of. There’s a group called American Atheists that was founded by Madalyn Murray O’Hair. And here is a handy-dandy list of secularist organizations worldwide.

I guess that part of what the New Atheists are trying to is create such a community but it is hard to have a community based round a lack of belief. Almost by definition it becomes one of the less important things in your life.

I wouldn’t say that groups are based around a lack of belief, but rather groups with common goals (separation of church and state, for example) and ideals.

Elizabeth Liddle @ 9:

atheism=/=antitheism

No, but the New Atheists are most assuredly antitheist in their writings and attitudes.